Friday, April 9, 2010

This Date In Music History-April 9

Birthdays:

Country singer Margo Smith (1942)

Terry Knight- Terry Knight and the Pack , Grand Funk Railroad (1943)

Gene Parsons - Byrds (1944)

Les Gray - Mud (1946)

Phillip Wright - Paper Lace (1948)

Hal Ketchum (1953)

Mark Kelly - Marillion (1961)

Joe Peters - Grant Lee Buffalo (1965)

Kevin Martin - Candlebox (1969)

Gerard Way - My Chemical Romance (1977)

Rachel Stevens - S Club 7 (1978)

Albert Hammond Jr - Strokes (1980)

Jesse McCartney (1987)


They Are Missed:

In 1976, American folk singer songwriter Phil Ochs, hung himself at his sister's home in Queens, New York. Wrote "There But A Fortune," a hit for Joan Baez.

Dave Prater of soul duo Sam & Dave was killed in 1988 when his car left the road and hit a tree in Syracuse, Georgia, on his way to his mother's house in Ocilla. He was 50. Recorded for Stax Records from 1965 - 1968, hits included "Soul Man" and "Hold On, I'm Coming."

Singer and songwriter Brook Benton died in 1988 (age 56). Scored over 20 US top 40 singles, in the late 1950s and early 1960s, he scored hits such as "It's Just A Matter Of Time" and "Endlessly" and made a comeback in 1974 when he had the #4 hit "Rainy Night In Georgia."

Songwriter Mae Boren Axton died in 1997 (age 82) after drowning in her bath at her home in Hendersonville, Tennessee after an apparent heart attack. Known as the 'Queen Mother of Nashville' she wrote over 200 songs including a co-writing credit on the Elvis Presley hit "Heartbreak Hotel." Mother of country singer, songwriter Hoyt Axton.

Born on this day in 1932, Carl Perkins, American singer, songwriter, guitarist, (1956 US #2 & single "Blue Suede Shoes"). Perkins' songs were recorded by artists Elvis Presley, The Beatles, and Johnny Cash. Perkins died on 19th Jan 1998 (age 65).



In 2009, Randy Cain, a founding member of US soul group The Delfonics died at his home in Maple Shade, New Jersey at the age of 63. The Philadelphia group, whose hits include "La-La (Means I Love You)," won an R&B Grammy in 1970 for their song "Didn't I Blow Your Mind This Time."


History:

Elvis Presley performed at the L.C. Humes High School talent contest in 1953, singing "Keep Them Cold, Icy Fingers Off Of Me" (he gets the most applause and is allowed to sing an encore of "Til I Waltz Again With You").

Gene Vincent recorded the classic rock 'n roll song "Be Bop-A-Lula" in 1956, which went on to be a US & UK Top 20 hit in this year.



In 1963, the Beatles appeared live on the ITV show Tuesday Rendezvous, miming "From Me to You" and "Please Please Me" (during the closing credits). In the evening The Beatles played live at the Gaumont State Cinema, Kilburn, London.

In 1965, Bruce Johnston joined the Beach Boys as the permanent replacement for Brian Wilson.

The Rolling Stones made their first live appearance on British TV's "Ready Steady Go!" in 1965.

Percy Sledge's "When A Man Loves A Woman" was released in 1966.

The Righteous Brothers started a three week run at #1 on the US singles chart in 1966 with "You're My Soul And Inspiration."

The Doors and The Jefferson Airplane appeared at Cheetah, Santa Monica Pier, Venice, California in 1967. This was the largest show The Doors had played to date with a crowd of over 3,000

Paul McCartney quits the Beatles in 1970 (the group's breakup is announced to the press the next day).

Paul McCartney released the song "My Love" in 1973.

The Jackson 5 played the first of 15 shows at the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas in 1974.

Abba went to #1 on the US singles chart in 1977 with "Dancing Queen," the group's 7th US Top 40 hit and first #1.

Billy Ocean started a two week run at #1 on the US singles chart in 1988 with "Get Outta My Dreams, Get Into My Car."

In 1992, Fort Smith, AR resident Sean Pierce is walking home wearing a T-shirt he purchased the day before at a Van Halen concert when he’s arrested for “violating a statute against wearing a smutty shirt.” The shirt has the title of one of the group's albums printed on it: "For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge.” How could anyone have a problem with that? Van Halen offers to pay Pierce's fine.

Pantera entered the US album chart at #1 in 1994 with 'Far Beyond Driven.'

R. Kelly started a four week run at #1 on the US singles chart in 1994 with "Bump N' Grind," his first US #1 hit.

Soundgarden officially disbanded in 1997.

NSYNC started a seven week run at #1 on the US album chart in 2000 with ‘No Strings Attached.’

In 2008, R.E.M.'s "Accelerate" sells 115,000 copies in its first week to land at #2 on the Billboard 200 (U.S.). The album makes its debut at #1 in the United Kingdom, Canada, Ireland, Denmark, Norway, Switzerland and the Czech Republic and #2 in Germany, Italy, Holland and Austria.

Also in 2008, Green Day admitted (in an email to MTV) that they are also the Garage Rock band Foxboro Hot Tubs. The group posted a downloadable EP titled "Stop Drop and Roll!!!" for free a couple months earlier.

When You're Strange: A Film About The Doors is released in select US theaters in 2010. The biographical film, charting the group’s rise and fall, is narrated by actor Johnny Depp.

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